Electric clock



.Dea-4 1934- w. P. LouDoN 1,983,092

ELECTRCCLQCK Filed oct. 9, 1923 Wim@ ,60 'l L.1: x 60:

Patented Dec. 4, 1934 PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC CLOCK Warren P. Loudon, Anderson, Ind., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Dela- Wale Application October 9, 1928, Serial No. 311,318

7 Claims.

My invention relates to electric clocks of the type wherein energy is stored up and utilized as the motive power for actuating the clock mechanism, and which energy means are periodically reactivated or vreconditioned by means of an automatically energized velectro-responsive device.

The principal objects of myinvention are to improve upon, and simplify the existing types of 10 electric clocks generally; and to produce a mag'- net motor of simplified construction which will operate positively and accurately, and that can be produced and operated at a minimum of cost.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a plan view of a self-winding clock, embodying my invention, and showing the general arrangement of the principal units thereof.

Fig. 2 is an elevational View thereof showing certain parts in section, and taken substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

` Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the 'apparatus taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the electric circuit through the essential parts of the apparatus, certain portions of the apparatus being shown in section for the sake of clearness.

Referring to the drawing, designates a base plate or frame element of the self-winding clock which supports the energy dispensing means iudicated at A, and an electro-responsive means v B for reactivating or periodically storing energy into the energy dispensing means.

In the embodiment of the self-winding clock chosen for illustration, the energy dispensing means A comprises a rotatable shaft 21 journalled in the clock mechanism as by means of an angular bracket 22 fixed to the base plate 20 by screws 23 driven through one arm of the bracket and into the base plate 20. Mounted upon the shaft 21 and bracket 22 there is a driving unit for the shaft 21, comprising a flanged collar member 24 rotatably journalled upon the shaft 21, and to which one end of a spiral spring 25 is ilxed as by means of the screw 26. The other end of the spiral driving spring 25 is fixed to a drum 27 as by means of a rivet or pin 28 passing through both the cylindrical wall of the drum 27 and the end of the spring 25. The drum 27 forms a fixed support for the spring 25 by reason of the screw 27a which secures the drum 27 to the bracket 22. Attached to the shaft 21 is a ratchet wheel 29 provided with ratchet teeth 30 which are engaged by a holding dog 31 fixedl to the plate 60 20 as by the pin 32. Rigidly ilxed to the flange of the collar 24 there are a pair of gravity arms 40, having fly-weights 41 at the extreme or free ends thereof. Provided on one arm there is a spring pressed dog 42 which normally engages 65 the ratchet teeth 30 of the ratchet wheel 29, completing the driving engagement between the drum 27 and the ratchet wheel 29. vThe flanged collar 24 is further provided with an arm 43 substantially midway between the arms 40 and 70 carries a contact element 44 for a purpose that will be later explained.

The electro-responsive unit B, forming the physical embodiment of my invention, and by which rthe energy dispensing means is reactivated, is here embodied in an electromagnetically operated device, and comprises a base of moldable insulating material 50, supporting a magnet frame 51 having two parallel arms 52 and 53, each provided with a foot or lug 54 about which 80 the base 50 is moldably secured. In the illustrated form, I have shown the magnet frame 5l to be of U formation, and the lug 54 as of dovetail formation which provides an adequate anchoring means for the eld frame when the base is molded about the lugs. 'I'he base further supports a terminalstud 55 having a knurled or roughened head 56 which is likewise secured in the base 50 by molding the base about it as in the instance of the lugs 54. In the formation of the base, the terminal stud 55 and the field frame 51 are placed in proper relation and the base molded about the elements 54 and 56 in the one operation.

Attached to the middle or bridge portion of the iield frame is a core member 57 having a head 58 in substantial alignment with the free ends of the arms 52 and 53. The core also has a reduced portion 59 which is passed through an aperture in the bridging member of the arms 52 100 and 53 of the magnet frame' 5l, and secured thereto as by-riveting indicated at 60. The core 57 supports a coil winding 61 which is laterally contained between a circularinsulating disc 62 disposed against the bridging member of the field frame, and an insulated washer 63 of substantially semi-elliptical formation disposed near the head 58. One end of the coil winding is provided with a lead 69 Y which is, threaded through an aperture 70 in the insulated washer 11 63, and thence secured to the terminal stud 56 as shown in Figs-1 and 2. The other end of the coil Winding 61 is grounded to the core 57.

Disposed between 'the head 58 of the core 57 and the insulated washer 63, is an armature keeper` or stop 71 which has an angular formation 72, provided with'a notch 73 within which is disposed the armature of the electro-responsive device. The armature 80 is of substantial U formation having an attaching arm 81 and a free or contacting arm 82. The attaching arm 81 is rigidly xed to an armature or hinge spring 83 of at spring steel or the like which is securely clamped between a pair of steel washers 84, 85 by means of screws 86 driven through the washers and spring, and threaded into the arm 52 of the magnet frame.

My electro-responsive device is mounted upon the plate 20 as by the screws 90 and 91, passing through suitable apertures in the base, and since the base 50 is of insulating material, the electroresponsive device is insulatingly supported with respect to the clock frame. When my electroresponsive unit is mounted upon the, clock frame, it is so positioned that the armature 80 with its free or contact end 82 is disposed in the position to normally `engage the contact point 44 of the arm 43 of the( energy dispensing means hereinbefore described. Except for the contacting of the elements 44 and 82, the velectro-responsive means is entirely insulated from the energy dispensing means. In the operation of this device, the energy dispensing means or clock work as a vwhole forms the ground connection of the electrical circuit through the apparatus. The operating circuit includes this ground connection and thence through the arm 43, contact 44, armature 80, armature mounting 83, eld frame 51, core 57, coil 61, lead 69, terminal post 55 and the battery or source 100 is finally completed by return connection to the ground. l

The circuit, being closed in this manner, actuates the electro-responsive device to draw down the armature 80 which, due to its connection with the arm 43, carries with it the gravity devices 40 and 41 driving the arms 40 in a clockwise direction which tends to wind the spring 25 upon the collar 24, moving the dog 42 about the ratchet wheel 29 and separating the contacts 44, 82, meanwhile the dog 31 holding the ratchet wheel 29 from turning with the collar 24. This movement opens the circuit through the apparatus and winds up the spring 25 or reactivates the energy dispensing means which will then drive the shaft 21 in the usual manner to move the time indicating elements of the clock. As the spring 25 drives the clock work, the gravity device 40 will be moved in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, which will again carry the arm 43 into engaging relation with the arm 82 of the armature 80. This contacting of the parts 44 and 82 will again close the circuit through the energy dispensing means and the electro-responsive means, and

the above cycle of movement will be repeated.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An electromagnetic unit comprising in combination, a magnet frame having dovetailed lugs at one side thereof, a nonconducting base having portions surrounding said lugs, said lugs having an end embedded in the base for providing a non-separable relation between said base and frame.

2. An electromagnetic unit comprising in combination, a magnet frame having Web-like extensions joined thereto and a base of dielectric material secured about the webbed extensions of said magnet frame.

3. A magnet motor comprising, a base of insulating material, a U-shaped magnet frame,

formed on each leg of said U-shaped frame,

said extensions being arranged on one side only of said frame legs and joined thereto by a shank of relatively small cross section, and means for mounting the magnet frame with its legs in a plane substantially parallel with the base, and so that the base substantially encloses the frame extensions.

4. A magnet motor comprising, a base of insulating material, a U-shaped magnet frame, and means for securing the frame to the base including, lugs integrally formed with the legs of said frame, said lugs having enlarged ends embedded in recesses provided `by the base, the legs of the magnet frame lying in a plane substantially parallel with the base.

5. An electro-responsive means comprising in combination, a U-shaped Iframe, a plurality of feet for supporting said frame, means of reduced cross section joining the feet to the frame, a base of nonconducting material secured abo'ut the feet and the joining means of said frame insulatingly supporting the frame.

6. An electromagnet motor comprising in combination, a U-shaped magnet frame, a lateral extension integral with each leg of the frame and means insulatingly mounting the magnet frame including a base of molded insulating material secured about the lug extensions so as to hold the magnet frame in fixed relation thereto.

7. An electromagnet unit comprising in combination, a magnet frame having substantially parallel legs, supporting lugs formed integral with each leg of the frame and a base of molded insulating material secured about the lugs of said frame, and means for securing the frame to the base including overlapping portions of the base enclosing an enlarged portion of said supporting lugs.

WARREN P. LOUDON. 

